THE MODEL MAKER - Slot Cars Passion For Perfection | Full Documentary

For the trained model maker Michael Niemas, hobby, job and passion are one and the same: He builds racing cars true to the original in miniature format. The tinkerer now designs the miniature cars on a scale of 1:24 for customers all over the world. Technically, too, the vehicles are small masterpieces and, like their big role models, can even be used in races. In this report, Niemas creates the model of a Lola T70 from the 1960s.
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[@lefroy1]

If videos like this were around when I was a kid, i'd have been the happiest little sandboy.

[@kevinakling]

My Dad used to take us to the CAN-AM races at Riverside raceway in the 60-70's. We would take our Camper Trailer (Caravan) and park in the infield and stay the weekend. We took our bikes and rode to all the Manufacturers' tents. collecting stickers and looking at the cars in the pits. Dan Gurney, Mark Donohue, Bruce McLaren, all the drivers would talk to us. We also would go to the NASCAR races there - To see the Superbirds and Porsche 917s dominate their respected series was fantastic, plus the outlier/specialty cars like the Chaparals, Lotus, Shelby Cobras was awesome. Campfires for breakfast and dinner, sleeping under the stars, and races during the day. Great memories... Thanks for building this beautiful car to make me remember them!

[@ExSheriffFattyBoySkinnyArms]

Fascinating story

[@antoniogardelli7991]

FANTASTICO👍👍

[@sonnigundbelanglos]

love the level of nerdiness, it's just absolutely adorable!

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thank you very much from the nerd of the nerds😂👍🏻

[@sonnigundbelanglos]

@@NiemasRacecars

[@richg4051]

CAN-AM the best auto racing series there ever was.

[@jasongooden917]

He fascinated by cars from the 60s and 70s.. A man of culture..

[@TheFriendlyViking]

If I spent $2000 on that beautiful car there’s no way I would trust myself to not yeet it off the track. I’ll stick to my $50 scalextrics!

[@Joop.23-2-63]

Or SLOTIT, NINCO. NSR already is beyond my budget.

[@hillearybrown7083]

What a wonderful program!!

[@TinyMaths]

Interesting point made by Michael about knowing how to switch off and get refreshed, if the work you're doing requires a great deal of concentration every day. Currently my work doesn't. But my hobby does, and I tend to get a bit obsessed and work to almost exhaustion on my projects several times a week, which I don't think is the most healthy approach. Might take a leaf out of his book. Much respect to Michael and others like him who exercise this level of patience to produce such perfection. Very inspiring.

[@chrisgardiner2215]

a human can never be "switched off", if it does you are dead!😵⚰

[@AllanAndison]

The craftsmanship and artistry is truly amazing. I am so impressed by the skill of these people. Could watch this channel all day - so absorbing and fascinating.

[@nigelcarren]

Total respect mate, I both admire and understand your obsession! Best wishes from an Englishman making miniature armour in a French forest. BRAVO ⚒️🏆

[@toycarcollector]

Absolutely amazing, as a lover of all things toy cars and miniatures the skill of this master modeler is so wonderful. Thank you for making this documentary.

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thank you very much for that kind words!

[@garyrunnalls7714]

I grew up in a racing family and know those cars very well. I live close to where Riverside raceway used to be, oh man so sad . These idiots turned it in to a shopping mall since the 90's. Great memories there, we raced 911's along with guys in Lola's and still have some of the race programs from 1966- 71. Beautiful models guys.

[@juanpablocastano2192]

Where do you live? What country?

[@jorgechan716]

@@juanpablocastano2192 L

[@snoochpounder]

That’s the smile of someone who truly loves what they do

[@cobra3289]

I am currently working on a 1/24 AMT Lola slot car kit., and this video really inspired me to finish it.

[@dean9469]

Watching this has certainly taken me back to my younger days, im certainly digging out my slot car stuff next week when i have a couple weeks off work!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree!!

[@ThrashRoC]

Hab früher auch Modelle gebaut ..aber GAAANZ anderes niveau .. DAS was Michael hier macht ist ECHT Faszinierend !

[@keyboardtek]

I made many a model car in my teen years. These are expert level, way beyond anything I ever did. Well done.

[@jameslove1363]

I love 60s cars and I am blown away with the level of detail on these models outstanding !

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thanks James👍🏻

[@paolo-gt40modelworks]

welldone Michael ! so nice to see you at your desk ! congratulations

[@bademaheiliger6121]

Pure Leidenschaft!

[@shawnbartley9223]

Dude! I'm blown away incredible.

[@petermathieson5692]

Brilliant work, especially on the engine of that Lola.

[@JunsMiniGarage]

Thank you for making such a wonderful documentary! Niemas is definitely a master of his craft.

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thanks a lot and great that you like the documentary 😉

[@rickfazzini22]

Wow thanks for sharing that! I've always been into scale RC's since I was just a young child and to see a guy making a living off of following his dreams gives all of us scale freaks hope!

[@mohammadfaizal8461]

Precision engineering at its best....

[@timothymattson3680]

I loved seeing our local Seattle Washington, Bardahl logos after watching the amount of detail into both visual and functional form. Bardahl helped allow Racing costs to be an “ Expense” that was tax deductible. We have 1/8 -1-24 scale boats that match the boats we restore and run from the Kent Hydroplane and Race Museum. Top Shelf.

[@davejones4093]

This is simply glorious

[@Allan-ts1ux]

Had a lola t70 painted it british racing green with gold engine and trim in 1966 .. was the prettiest slot car

[@i_smoke_ghosts]

absolutely loved this upload.. what a great watch !! i had no idea the 1/8 scale on the coffee table what a dream :)

[@felixcat9318]

As a young boy I constructed models, mainly contemporary cars from household name manufacturers. Looking at the construction of Lola I have to say that its literally lightyears away from what I did as a kid. This is a Master Constructor, creating individual pieces of art that just so happen to run on a track! After seeing his work I would loved to have commissioned him, but this is beyond my financial ability to do so. His meticulously precise attention to detail and truly outstanding craftsmanship is an absolute joy to see and appreciate. Thank you for introducing viewers to this hugely talented artist and engineer.

[@jerrybailey5797]

Absolutely fascinating . Model car making on a much different scale

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thanks a lot Jerry😃 I'm glad you like it

[@lisat8654]

Niemas is a master. Please update and put his name in the title so more people can find this video

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thank you sooo much Lisa! I really appreciate this😃

[@darrenalmeida1382]

First I must say that the Lola looks spectacular! I started building plastic models when I was about 7 or 8 years old and I built kits off and on until the mid 1990s. In December of 2021 at the age of 55, I started in the hobby again. For the first time ever, I decided to highly detail my model with magneto, ignition wires, brake lines, fuel line and hydraulic steering lines with steering rams (Monster truck kit). I forgot how small these parts are and how they are even more noticeably small with my aging eye sight and my stiff fingers from working construction for the past 36 years. I do not have plans to be a professional builder like Michael, but I do admire his attention to detail. I must be crazy too, I just finished painting my Monster truck body, but I was unhappy with the outcome. So now the body is currently sitting in a bucket of Purple Power degreaser/paint stripper. The horrible paint job was done with a rattle can, with that said, an airbrush will be purchased in the next day or so in hopes that an acceptable paint job can be accomplished. Model making is a very personal endeavor and I appreciate the actual engineers who create these kits.

[@ireneniemas4337]

Super

[@jesusdavidespindola1576]

Maicol muy buen trabajo

[@CraftingGuy_Rai]

This is simply amazing and inspiring a lot

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

You the man with those slot cars

[@SlotCar2021]

Incredible detail ❤

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Really enjoyed............................ 👍👍👍

[@marcjohnson5148]

Awesome One day I hope to meet Micheal.

[@351oldskool]

Amazing!!

[@ScaleHUBplasticmodels]

Stunning!

[@YouTubechangedmyhandleagain]

Anybody notice that on the right hand side of the car the number is 18. On the left side, front and rear the car number is 81.

[@deanjohn9203]

The passenger side is wrong, you're correct! How could he have missed that!?!

[@paulundpaulchen]

@@deanjohn9203 a fine trick to make a model unique ... especially a model that is shown on television/youtube worldwide :)

[@bangfi1865]

Hard to believe he did it deliberately, just shows that u can be too close to the work concentrating on perfection and get it wrong. I've done it myself @ looked back in horror when too late.

[@paulundpaulchen]

@@bangfi1865 Easter egg for fans? Such a mistake would surely have been noticed before clear coat ... this is the time to correct last things.

[@omegapolat]

maybe original car have it? maybe...

[@nobody-wk6ej]

Oooooh... Let me go grab my Tamiya kit!

[@elvispoh1437]

I really needed this because my models are always shit

[@davenc8527]

Very impressive.

[@miltononyango]

amazing and inspiring alot

[@Crazeyfor67]

These cars are what slot car racing should be. I know very few people can afford to make cars like this, but the cars should look like real cars to a point. The cars where the body is a flimsy plastic shell isn't realistic looking. Cars are driven by drivers and should have a full body people in the seat. so should model cars. Anyway a wonderful documentary that was fun to watch. Thanks

[@jordipena7984]

Genial michael gracias por enseñarnos 👌👏

[@leekozmiccooper7265]

Skills 👍👍👍

[@missinglink9973]

ART!!!!!!

[@pufango4059]

No

[@brianjarred340]

Brilliant 👍👍😊👏

[@randy1817]

Great work!! Very impressive.. Truly great works of art!!

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thanks a lot Randy🤙🏻

[@razif6916]

Living the dream

[@sandromelzer1828]

Dedicação, paciência e amor pelo trabalho executado!! Parabéns!! 🏎🏎🏎

[@panigalecheckmate1549]

Outstanding !!!👌👍

[@nicholasbennett2358]

you are truly a master

[@lotusman1974]

Very nice Lola T -70's with great details. They all look great ! Slotcar racing was very popular back when these cars were the latest and fastest cars around a road coarse in the world. I saw many races at Kent Pacific raceways, just outside of Seattle, with all these iconic racers and race cars compete back when they were new including all of the Trans Am races in the beginning of Trans-Am and some Indy cars too. Great place to grow up if you like road racing. First Lola T-70 in video has the markings of a Chevy dealership just a block and a half from where I grew up. Allen Green Chevrolet which was actually in Burien south of Seattle. Funny thing was they ran at Indy once with a Ford powered car much to the chagrin of Chevy fans. I loved it as my dad worked right next door to Southgate Ford. lol

[@lotusman1974]

Oh and Jerry Grant was a local hero and very fast ending up as Dan Gurneys co-driver driving the Ford GTs.

[@battano]

When I was a kid I remember we had places with slot car tracks. Not so much anymore in North Texas at least. Everything has gone RC...

[@DoubleClutchProductions]

I hope to be a professional RC model maker one day. Respect from USA

[@issaomar5698]

Come on man. You do not hope. You tinker from day one, or you never do.

[@DoubleClutchProductions]

@@issaomar5698 Lets see some of your projects...

[@lennardrau3133]

Sehr gut Chef! 😏👍

[@JohnnyButtons]

1:24 scale is my favorite model scale size

[@richditlevsen4225]

I want one !!!

[@Jarwin_Wuhnol]

Simply amazing! I’d love to see something like this but on more traditional scale model car builders. Keep up the great work 👍🏻

[@NiemasRacecars]

Thanks a lot Darwin and I'll try to keep it more traditional😉

[@863rafael]

My dream job!

[@jacksunstone8771]

Awesome

[@alejandroprieto1111]

La calidad y esmero es asombrosa

[@dominicthomas7518]

Will you be doing a detailed video on Amalgam Collection ?? It would be really nice too.

[@Yasser.Abuharba]

Or MR collection in Italy.

[@dominicthomas7518]

@@Yasser.Abuharba Yes. Indeed. Lets see if WELT does it or not.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Make a full scale replica of your favourite sports car 🏎

[@lenderification]

A documentary on Chinese craftmanship should be made since there are millions of master modelers among Chinese people given that most of the scale models the world buys of any sort and scale and all sorts of toys for that matter are made in China

[@AFV85]

He should be using AK interactives Black widow super glue! It's got rubber particals through it for shock proofing and flexibility and you can have up to 30 plus mins with it for adjustments or you can hit it with any activator and it'll cure straight away! Also good for filling gaps as sandable and paintable It's good to see this people don't release what goes in to each model kit this he's doing is just the basics for us modeler's!

[@NiemasRacecars]

Hi Charlie, thanks for your glue advice. I will check it👍🏻

[@LucDesaulniers1]

I use my Scalextric Porshe 908 on a commercial track. After a few lap, the heat from the motor melted its mount with the dramatic result. Cooling is not covered in this video.

[@FraxXxnk]

Cooling is also not a problem with slot cars with metal chassis. The heat is dissipated via the motor holder and the base plate.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I would like to see this model maker make a Tractor Trailer . 1:24 scale

[@jefdamen2977]

Damn son, nice

[@guntherwagner1564]

Traumhaft!

[@TweakRacer]

Is the front hood and rear decklid "81" numbers supposed to be off-center, with the "8" in the middle and the "1" off to the side? Also, why is the "81" an "18" on the right/passenger side of the vehicle? Sure hope that's not a $2,000 Euro mistake.

[@epicstrengthinsanity1235]

I wish he’s my master teacher.

[@mestapho2011]

ya'll left out one important part.. the polishing of the body. the body was not smooth with orange peel but finished product was smoothed. wet sanding and polishing is a crucial part of this finished product. otherwise.. great presentation.

[@pistolpeds]

Wonderful work but would you drive this masterpiece ? Not me !

[@davidjessee7701]

There is a slot car track place just like this in shepherdsville ky .. just south of Louisville ky..

[@josemanuelserrano289]

😍😍😍😍

[@michaelboren7430]

Anyone else notice one side of the car has # 18 instead of 81?

[@omegapolat]

yeah right door but maybe orginal car was same.

[@tclaudio5]

Yes right door.

[@shb8124]

As someone who's made models my whole life *and* am about to start indulging in some slot car racing I thought this was great 👍 While my static models get super detailed I am planning on racing with mates so I'll be using commercially available slot cars but will be souping them up a bit and adding some detail and/or weathering.

[@quaussiemoto3939]

so is it #81 or #18 because it has 2 different numbers on it?

[@taskmaster58]

It's supposed to read 81on both sides, I guess he was more going for symmetry than accuracy, and maybe what cost him the best model in show.

[@conradsmith7752]

Great skill and attention to detail. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news or cause distress though, but I think you had 18 on the side instead of 81 😟

[@fvandermey]

Beautiful car and great details. That's why I don't understand that the number on the right handside is wrong. The car has number 81 but on the right handsite it's 18??

[@awaken90]

Me too since my childhood even before i could've learn to run properly on my feet, having & had a great love and passion for anything on wheels specially for fast motorcycles, infact hope of getting one someday is what keeps me alive, but never got a chance to really live my dream in real for reasons only a bread and butter family would know.. Its Not that i did'nt try to make my carrer in automobile as post graduate one could, i tried and even trying to this very day by various means but every thing tobe happen takes time, backup, resources atleast for a while to let it happen, that is what i don't have' gota home to run..

[@alejandroprieto1111]

Increíble. Por favor que clase de autoslot es? Me recuerda el autoslot americano de fines de los años 60, escala 1.24, chasis Cox, dinamic con carrocerías can am, motores mura

[@donnajones1603]

Didn't see the "sucker" car Chaparral 2J ....wonder how they'd make a functional slot car version?

[@johnhrichak3451]

A skilled model kit assembler/detailer to sure but a model maker, no. To see a truly gifted model maker, check out Gerald Wingrove or Rojas Bazan to witness world class model MAKING.

[@AFV85]

I'm the same but with military armour in 1.35 scale its a great thing to do with your time! Such rewarding when they start to win best of shows for scale accuracy and remembering what they boys and girls went through to give us what we have today! Shame the government's taking that freedom away bit by bit now though, Britain will be a Dictator country soon enough if bojo remains! Honestly car modelling is so much easier than what I do now with ww1 ww2 armour! Accuracy is everything to this community, weathering sanded wheels and rubber pads on tracks etc and no tyre is ever painted black! Always a deep Grey or a tyre rubber black paint we see tyres black but really look at them when in use there not black and always have a dust coat look as you can see at 28.28 in his view! See attention to that alone can win a show!

[@shaider1982]

I did not know that slot cars can be larger than mini 4wd.

[@pieralessi7426]

I L😍VE DO IT!!!

[@seamushowling572]

Crazy af, nerd pinewood derby taken to the max.

[@JiminysCricket]

what's the story behind the off centre 81 on the hood and deck lid and the 18 on the ride side door? This was normally a #8 car right? was there another 8 entered in the race so they had to slap a 1 on the car? but accidentally put 18 on one side?

[@You068]

WOW…

[@bennywoodarts]

first I thought he actually made it all by hand from 0 and manually. it is almost like assembling and modifying, the term is custom. plus it is supported by very adequate tools. but i still appreciate it. because not everyone can be like him. the world of model scale or miniature scale is indeed a very exciting hobby, especially to the point of being able to compete in a race like this. nice

[@my_dear_friend_]

80 hours of work plus expenses for materials and parts and he only charges 2000 Euros? He does not pay himself much considering the experience and level of skill he brings to the table.

[@joestitz239]

How to contact him ? Want to buy one

[@busybody1474]

@@joestitz239 Google his name and see what comes up

[@busybody1474]

I noticed as well, he could be making much more for a company like Amalgam.. but if he likes working from home and enjoys what he does, that's worth more than money to some people

[@debralearyan8844]

❤😎💫